Final

 The two main issues we had for my part of the video was the setting. We had the option to either find an expensive area to film at, or we can use something that fits the character well. Because my character is known to be tacky, flashy, and somewhat ratchet, I feel like a colorful outdoor jacuzzi with fancy jets would fit it very nicely. With the props that we have ( cigar/ gold watches/ jewelry everywhere), the jacuzzi will be a very good option for a setting.

This week we will try and take a few shots in the jacuzzi and compare them to the shots we already have in the expensive house that we filmed at. Once we compare them we will come to a conclusion and figure out which setting is the best for us. We would have to put the jets to the softest level possible because if the jets are too loud, they are not going to be able to hear me speak. 

Stay tuned for more updates or changes! 

spring break

 Spring Break is what I needed. Time to catch up and relax. After taking multiple shots, we finalized the official plan and changed the shots we needed to change. We have this upcoming week to do what we need to finalize the product and I am very excited to see how it will work out in the end. 

My group also decided that we will be editing this week on Adobe Premiere, and after watching multiple Youtube videos,  we learned new wars  to make our editing look more professional. The issue with my past editing in my last projects is that I only use the basic editing skills. I used my Spring Break to not only relax, but to also learn more about editing so throughout this week, the editing will go very smoothly, and it will finally look professional. 

I originally already used Youtube  for my music video project to learn how to use split screen to  show two points of views at once, but after watching various videos I learned that Adobe is actually easier than it looks. I can not wait for the finalized project. 

Pre- Film blog

 We officially start filming tomorrow. It sucks that Luis is going to be gone most of the break because that means that we have to start filming as early as possible so we do not end up rushing at the end. Tomorrow in class my group and I are going to discuss what types of shots we are planning on doing. We are planning on finalizing the storyboard tomorrow in class and I am going to draw it up and post it on my next blog explaining it. 

After reading an article (https://wolfcrow.com/how-filmmakers-manipulate-our-emotions-using-camera-angles-and-movement/), which explains in depth how shots are used to express emotions and messages. I am planning on using the shots that express the most emotion. Our video is going to include two drug cartel leaders that are at war. This scene is going to use a lot of emotion. Tomorrow I will go in depth in the storyboard explaining which shots I will use and present my ideas to my group. 

Stay tuned! It's going to be a long two weeks of filming and editing. 

finalized planning process

 After we finished talking on our FaceTime call, we have basically finalized planning the video. I am pretty comfortable with what we have so far. The only issue that we will face is the fact that none of us are going to be here in Spring Break, so we won’t be able to have that extra week to film the shots to have extra time to see if we like them or not. 

My group not being here for that week has me a little stressed. That extra week would have been key to the success of our video. We now have to adapt to the reality of it and begin shooting this week. Or at least plan out what shots we want to do and go over the script a couple of times. The quicker we adapt the more time we’ll have to film and edit the video. 

I am very excited to begin filming because it’s always fun to film with Pablo and Luis. Another issue we’d have to face is the fact that Luis and I laugh at everything, so we’re going to need a couple of practice shots to be able to say the script with a straight face. 

Stay tuned…..

Schedule

My group and I are going to begin filming this week because none of us are going to be here for Spring break. We ordered the fake money from amazon and it got me excited because I have a good feeling about this project. (https://www.amazon.com/Money-Movie-Videos-Wedding-Birthday/dp/B0BS8RNQXP/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=prop+money&qid=1677940362&sr=8-8)  The plan is 100% executable and we are going to do it in the best way possible. 

After talking with the group about character outfits and other props. We agreed that Luis will be the classy cartel leader and I will be the tacky/ ratchet cartel leader. Our outfits will be polar opposites with Luis’s outfit being expensive but simple, and my outfit will be as flashy as possible with gold jewelry everywhere. We are meeting up on Tuesday to begin filming. 

Tomorrow me and my group are going to have a group face-time call to finalize the story board. Stay tuned! 

Production talk

 I am re- watching a Netflix series called “Narcos” which was based on the infamous cocaine drug lord known as Pablo Escobar, and the show goes in depth about his personal life. The show mimicked what a drug meeting looked like and where they took place. Most “meetings” take place in a safe and discreet setting. These meetings mostly take place in the house of the owner of the business. A very personal area, with armed guards or some sort of security surrounding and constantly watching every blind spot. 

The pictures I added below are from “Narcos Colombia” and “Narcos Mexico”. The pictures are a perfect example of what we want our video to look like. 

My group is relying on our friends to use their houses as the setting of the “meetings”. These Weston houses have palm trees surrounding the pools and usually a little area where people can sit around and talk. With the props like the fake money, tacky jewelry, and other things, we can perfectly mimic a drug “meeting”. 

If that doesn’t end up working out, we can go to a hotel and Miami and ask to use an empty villa to film in. Either way the house or the villa can make the perfect setting for the video.